Combined recording and playing mechanism for automatic musical instruments.



M. CLARK.

COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912.

1,132,441, Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRI S PETERS C0,, PHm'o-LHHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C.

M. CLARK.

COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC] MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIOATION FILED no.6, 1912. 1,132,441 Patented Mar.16,1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ml J 4 1!! l W {F @Mwm THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTGLITHO. WASHINGTON. D. C.

M. CLARK. V COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912v 1,132,441. Patented Mar.16, 1915.

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M. CLARK. COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

. APPLIOATION FILED DEO.5, 1912.

1,1 32,441. I 1 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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1145 NORRIS PETERS c0, PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, D c.

M. CLARK. comma]: momma AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912. 1,1 32,441 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTO-LITHU., WASHINGTON D. c.

M. CLARK. COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

7 APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5 1912. 1,1 32,441

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

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THE NORRIS PETERS (30., PHOTD-LITHOH WASHINGTON L7 0,

M. CLARK. COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 5, 1912.

1,132,441. Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

W W T I 7 [6ZUZ'ZZ9 fiark. T as Tr? mmak THE NORRIS PETERS 50., PHOTOLITHO., WASHINGTON. D. C.

M. CLARK.

COMBINED RECORDING AND PLAYING MECHANISM r03 AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1912 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

"Qa'd dad THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHOTCLITHIL, WASHINGTON. D. c.

M. CLARK.

001mm) RECORDING AND PLAYING mncmmsm FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MELVILLE CLARK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MELVILLE CLARK PIANO COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CCRPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

. Application filed December 5, 1912. Serial No. 735,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVILLE CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful linprovements in Combined Recording and Playing Mechanism for Automatic Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

'lhe purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of the nature of an automatic player for musical instruments, which shall be adapted also to record the playing of such instrument by hand.

It consistsof the elements and features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical fore-and-aft section of a grand piano which is equipped with a pneumatic action forming a part of the apparatus of this invention. Fig. 2 is an inverted plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a partly sectional front elevation of a cabinet and inclosed mechanism embodying this invention, section being made through the cabinet framework in the vertical plane of the line 33 on Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a section at the line H on Fig. 3, with the recording pneumatics removed. Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5-5 on Fig. 3, showing the mechanism arranged for recording. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the mechanism arranged for playing. Fig. 7 is a detail end view of the carhon-carrying platen or marking roll. Fig. 8 is a section at the line 8-8 on Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is an outline plan view on a small scale for showing the relation of the piano and the cabinet and their connecting cable. Fig. 10 is a vertical section at the line 1010 on Fig. 4. Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the tracker in the cabinet and adjusting and supporting devices. Fig. 12 is a section at the line 1:212 on Fig. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the seating face of one end portion of the valve slide bar shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14: is a similar view of the face on which said valve bar seats, of the duct board shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is a face view of a cable coupling for carrying the tubes which connect the piano with the cabinet. Fig. 16 is a section at the line l6-16 on Fig. 2. Fig. 17 is a detail vertical fore-and-aft section of a pedal operated bleeder for controlling the record of expression or intensity of the playing. Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the cabinet with the door open disclosing the pumping mechanism. Fig. 19 is an end view of a group of the markers for recording the music.

It is regarded preferable, in constructing mechanism for the double purpose of recording and playing, to locate all the mechanism except that which is necessarily in proximate relation to the manual keys of the instrument to be played or whose playing is to be recorded, in a cabinet separate from the case of such instrument, connecting such mechanism with the pneumatic action located proximate to the manual action of the instrument by a cable of pneumatic tubes (when the instrument is wholly pneumatic in its operation), substantially as shown in my application, Serial No. 699,871 filed May 27, 1912.

The pneumatic action for playing is shown mounted in connection with a grand piano, whose customary parts are shown in familiar form in Figs. 1 and 2. This pneumatic action comprises the usual motor Pneumatics, 1, each having a pitman or striker, 2, positioned for being thrust upward against the under side of the rear end of the corresponding manual keys, 3, of the instrument, each motor pneumatic being controlled in the usual manner by a primary pneumatic, 5, contained in a primary pneumatic chamber, 6; and having the chamber or passage, 5, controlled by its valve-and hereinafter referred to as the valve chamber-connected by a tube, 5 with the motor pneumatic. All these parts of the motor pneumatic player action are mounted in their customary relation to each other in a casing, 7, mounted upon the under side of the framework of the piano, as clearly seen in Fig. 1. The flexible tubes, 8, leading from the primary pneumatics are assembled in a cable which extends off from the piano to a cabinet, 10, which contains the remaining mechanism for playing. For recording. each of the ducts, 11, extending to the primary pneumatics and with which the tubes,

8, are connected, has a branch duct, 12, and these branch ducts are connected by flexible tubes, 13, with a valve board, 14, each of the tubes, 13, leading to a duct, 15, in said board controlled by a valve, 16, on the end of a lever, 17, said levers, 17, terminating below the rear ends of the manual keys, respectively, and being provided with upwardlyextending pull rods, 17 whose upper ends are hooked to overhang the manual keys, respectively, so that when a manual key is depressed for playing, its rear end being elevated at the limit of its stroke pulls up on the corresponding lever, 17, opening the valve which it carries and venting the corresponding primary pneumatic. As will be understood from the further description, the tubes, 8, leading to the primary pneumatics, serve in automatic playing as the vent tubes for said primary pneumatics controlled in the usual way by a perforated note sheet passing over a tracker duct board in the cabinet, whose ducts are connected by said tubes, 8; but in recording, the opening of the valve, 16, as described, performs the function of a perforated note sheet for venting the same primary pneumatics, 5, for operating the recording action, the remainder of which is located in the cabinet, for which purpose said primary pneumatics, 5, have their respective valve chambers, 5 connected by tubes, 18, with the corresponding tubes, 8, so that said tubes, 8, serve in the recording action the function of connecting the primary pneumatics with the respective motor pneumatics of said recording action. Since the tubes, 8, when in service as a part of the recording action must not be in direct communicition with the primary pneumatics or with the vents of said primary pneumatics, and when said primary pneumatics are in service as a part of the playing action they must not have their vent connections in communication either with their valve chambers or with the vent ports controlled by the valves, 16, it is necessary to provide shiftable connections for the vent ducts of the primary pneumatics, 5, by which they may be at one adjustment in communication with the ports controlled by the valves, 16, and at another adjustment in communication with the cable tubes, 8, leading to the ducts of the tracker in the cabinet, and also shiftable connections from the val e chambers, 5*, by which at one adjustment they may be in communication with the motor pneumatics, 1, of the playing action, and at another adj ustment, in communication with the tubes, 8, serving as connections to the motor pneumatics of the recording action in the cabinet, and to provide means for manipulating these adjustments so that when the primary pneumatics, 5, are in communicition with the ports controlled by the valve, 16, the valve chambers, 5 shall be in communication with the tubes, 8, and when said primary pneumatics are in communication with the tubes, 8, the valve chamber shall not be in communication with the motor pneumatics, 1. For these purposes, the ducts, 11, are branched in the board, 50, containing the valve chambers, 5 their branches, 1'2. emerging at the same surface of the board as the principal ducts, 11; and on that surface there is mounted a valve slide bar, 51, having a series of ducts, 52, whose ports at one side of the bar are adapted to register with the branch ducts, 12, and at the other side are connected with the tubes, 13, leading to the ducts, 15, in the valve board, 1 1. Said valve slide bar, 51, has another series of ports, 53, having their ports at the inner face of the bar positioned for registering with the ports of the ducts, 11, when the said valve slide bar, 51, is adjusted and positioned for non-registration of the ports of the ducts, 52, with the branch ducts, 12. The ducts, 53, do not extend directly through the valve slide bar, 51, but are intercepted by cross ducts, 53 which at one end are connected with the tubes, 8, for communication with the ducts of the tracker of the recording action mounted in the cabinet; and at the other end, with the tubes, 18, for connection with the valve chambers, 5 Said tubes, 18, lead to and are connected with transverse ducts, 55, in a valve slide bar, 54:, mounted on the face of the primary pneumatic chamber, 6, for communication at one position to which it may be adjusted, of its ducts, 55, with the ports, 56, leading to the primary pneumatic chambers, 5 Said valve slide bar, 54, has another set of transverse ducts, which are connected with the tubes, 5*, leading to the motor pneumatics, 1, said last-mentioned ports being positioned for registration with the corresponding ports, 56, leading into the primary pneumatic chambers, 5 when the ports, 56, are out of registration with the ports, 55, of said valve slide bar, 54.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that when the valve slide bar, 51, is adjusted to the position shown in Fig. 2, for communication of the primary pneumatics, 5, with the ducts, 15, controlled by the valves, 16, for recording, the valve slide bar, 54, will be adjusted for communication of the valve chambers, 5 through the tubes, 18, and the cross ports, 53, with the tubes, 8, and thereby with the motor pneumatics of the recording action in the cabinet, and that at such adjustment said primary pneumatics are cut off from direct communication with said tubes, 8, and the valve chambers, 5 are cut off from communication with the motor pneumatics, 1. It will be also understood that when the valve slide bar, 51, is shifted to its other adjustment for giving the primary pneumatics, 5, com-' munication through the ducts, 8, with the ducts of the tracker board of the player action in the cabinet, the valve slide bar, 54:, is adjusted for communication of the valve chambers, 5*, with the motor pneumatics, 1, of the player action; and that at this adjustment, the primary pneumatics, 5, are cut off from communication with the ducts, 15, and the valve chambers, 5*, are cut off from communication with the tubes, 18. For adjusting the valve slide bars, 51 and 5st, both said slides are connected to a lever, 57, which is fulcrumed at its upper end on the piano frame, its lower end being engaged between collars, 58 58, fast on a shaft, 58, which is screwed through bearings, 59, by means of a crank handle, 58 swinging the lever, 57, for moving the slides, 51 and 54:, to proper distances determined by the collar, 58", and an additional stop collar, 58, at the other side of the bearings, 59.

Provision is made not only for recording the manipulations of the manual keys, but also for recording the movements of the piano pedals. For this purpose, there is mounted upon the under side of the piano frame a subsidiary primary pneumatic chamber, 6, connected by an air tube, 6 with the principal primary pneumatic chamber, 6; and in this subsidiary chamber there are provided primary pneumatics with their respective valves and valve chambers for controlling tubes, 6, which are comprised in the cable tubes leading from the piano to the cabinet, and in the latter are connected with motor pneumatics for actuating the recording devices for recording the pedal movements in the same manner as the manual key movements are recorded. The primary pneumatics and their valve chambers and connections in the subsidiary chamber, 6", are not illustrated in detail, the construction being in all respects that which is familiar for such purposes and identical in construction with that of the primary pneumatics, their valves and valve chambers in the principal primary pneumatic chamber, 6. The sustaining pedal rod, 60, is connected by a suitable lever, 61, with a valve, 62, which controls a tube, 63, leading to one of the primary pneumatics in the subsidiary chambers, 6*", from whose valve chamber the tube, 6, leads to the cable for controlling a marker in the recording device, as above stated and hereinafter described. The soft pedal lever, 64-, extends under the end of a lever arm of the valve, 65, which controls an air tube, 66, leading to another primary pneumatic in the subsidiary chamber, 6, from whose valve chamber the tube, 6 leads to the cable for controlling a marker in the recording action to record the movement of the soft pedal.

For reproducing the pedal movements in automatic playing, their operating connections, respectively, may be provided with pneumatic operating devices controlled in the understood manner by ducts in the tracker bar mounted in the cabinet. Such pneumatic operating devices are illustrated with respect to the loud pedal comprising a motor pneumatic, 67, mounted under the piano frame and connected by a tube, 68, with the valve chamber of a primary pneumatic, not shown in detail, contained in the subsidiary chamber, 6, said primary pneumatic being provided with a vent tube, 69, which is comprised in the cable running from the cabinet to the piano, the correspondlng tube hereinafter described in the cabinet being connected with the proper duct in the tracker. The motor pneumatic, 67, is connected by a link, 68, and lever, 69, with the damper or mute, 70, for lifting the latter when the pneumatic is collapsed. As illustrated, the same lever, 69, forms a part of the connection of the sustaining pedal rod, 60, with said damper or mute, 70. The pneumatic means for operating the soft pedal by connection with the tracker are not illustrated, but may be provided in a manner obvious from the description of the said means as applied to the sustaining pedal.

In the cabinet, 10, there are provided the take-up roll, 19, and the note sheet or recording rolls, 20 or 21, for carrying the note sheet, 22, or the record sheet, 23, according to whether the apparatus is being used for playing or recording. A motor and driving mechanism are provided for actuating these rolls entirely independently of the pumping mechanism which furnishes the power for actuating the playing mechanism. As illustrated, an electric motor, 26, is located in the lower part of the cabinet and connected by a belt with a shaft, 27, which carries a friction disk, 28, across the face of which there extends a shaft. 29, journaled in suitably mounted bearings for carrying a friction wheel, 30, which is feathered for sliding thereon and rotating therewith, by means of a long sleeve hub, 31, having rigid with it a grooved puley, 32, which is engaged by a shipping lever, 33, suitably fulcrumed for swinging transversely to the shaft of the friction disk, 28, and thereby moving the friction wheel, 30, over the face of said friction disk toward and from the center of the latter for varying the speed of motion which the friction wheel, 30, derives from the disk, 28. The shipping lever, 33, is eX- tended up from its fulcrum to a convenient position for manipulation by the operator to vary the speed as desired. The shaft, 29, carries a pulley, 34, from which a belt, 35, runs over a pulley, 36, on the main shaft of the motor train, 38, by which the take-up roll, 19, and the note-sheet roll, 20, or record sheet roll, 21, are actuated. The details of the train, 38, need not be described, as said train is not materially different from similar trains for driving note-sheet operating rolls in well-known automatic players, except that it does not require and does not contain any automatic speed-governing device, since the speed is to be regulated entirely by adjusting the friction wheel, 30, over the face of the friction disk, 28, the electric motor, 26, being itself constructed and provided with customary governing means not illustrated for running at uniform speed when energized by a current for which it is properly wound. In the cabinet, there is also mounted an electric motor, 40, which drives multiple pumpers, 47, for producing the required degree of rarefaction or exhaust tension in the air chambers for pro ducing the recording pneumatic action. This recording pneumatic action comprises the primary pneumatic chamber, 6. and primary pneumatics, 5, therein, associated with the piano as already described, and system of motor pneumatics, 44, contained in the cabinet, and having said motor pneumatics connected with the corresponding primary pneumatics in the chamber, 6, as partly al-' ready described and further hereinafter described. Said motor pneumatics, 44, are mounted upon a platform, 45, hinged at the rear edge for swinging up and down to carry the devices operated by the motor pneumatics, 44, into and out of cooperative relation with the record sheet, 23. This record sheet, in passing from roll, 21, to roll, 19, runs over a roller, 46, which is covered with carbon paper, 47, or other means of producing a mark when pressure is applied to the sheet passing over it. The roll, 46, is provided with spindles, 48, by which it is journaled in the side cheeks, 49, 49, which support the bearings of the rolls, 19 and 21, said side cheeks being slotted from the upper edges, as shown at 49 to admit the spindles and position the carbon-carrying roller properly for the travel of the record sheet over it, substantially as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the motor pneumatics, 44, has connected with its moving wall a stylus or marker, 44*, these markers extending down from their connections with said moving walls so as to overhang the carbon roll and record sheet thereon, being substantially alined with the axis of the roll when the platform, 45, is swung down to operative position at which it is stopped by adjustable screws, 45*, set through said platform and forming legs for the same. stopping upon the upper edges of the cheeks, 49. The motor pneumatics, 44, it will be understood, are normally expanded, being collapsed when put into communication with the primary pneumatic chamber by the action of the primary pneumatics therein; and upon such collapse of any motor pneumatic, 44, its marker is thrust down on to the record sheet which is being caused by the motor, 38, to travel over the carbon roll, and by its friction thereon rotates said carbon roll as it travels. The mar rer thus produces upon the under side of the r cord sheet a mark corresponding in position and length to the note which has been struck by the performer on the piano, and thereby records said note as to its pitch and duration.

For adjusting the carbon roller to shift the areas subject to the pressure of the markers so as to invove from time to time fresh areas and thereby insure well defined markings, the roller is made somewhat longer than the width of the area to be marked, and its spindles are extended through the cheeks in which thev are supported. and outside the right-hand cheek is exposed to the pressure of a spring, 46% mounted upon the outside of the right-hand cheek; and the spindle at the other end of the roll is exposed outside the lefthand cheek to the pressure of a lever, 46, fulcrumed between its ends on the left-hand cheek, and having its forward end pivotally connected to a nut, 46. traveling on a screw shaft, 46 journaled in the left-hand cheek and provided inside the latter with a knurled head, 46 for manipulation by the operator.

In order to adjust the markers transversely of the record sheet so as to position the record marks which they produce accurately with respect to the margins of the sheet, the platform, 45, has its hinge pintles, 45, elongated, and the brackets, 45", in which they bear spaced off from the ends of the platform; and for sliding the platform in its pintle bearings, a bracket, 45, extends down from the platform at one end and has its lower forked end engaged with an annular groove in an adjusting screw, 45 screwed into one of the cheeks, 49, and adjustable by means of its knurled head, 45 for sliding the platform a short distance in either direction.

In the recording pneumatic action described, the motor pneumatics for recording the pedal movements are preferably those at the opposite ends of the system, so that the pedal movements are recorded at the margins of the record sheets; that is, outside the area upon which the manipulations of the manual keys are recorded. ,Vhen operated for automatic playing, the platform, 45, is swung up to the position shown in Fig. 6, where it is sustained by hinged brace posts, 45 notched at the upper ends for lodgment in their notches of studs, 45?, which project from the ends of the platform, 45, for that purpose. The tracker board, 80, is provided with rigid lever arms, 81, 81, at opposite ends, and said lever arms are provided with journals, 82, 82, by which they are fulcrumed or mounted for rocking in the cheeks, 49, in which the roll bearings are mounted, and the tracker is thereby adapted to be swung from the position shown in Fig.

5 (where it is out of use while the apparatus is employed for recording), up to the position shown in Fig. 6, where its upper edge or mouth-piece is properly positioned for travel over it of the note sheet between the note-sheet roll, 21, and the take-up roll, 19, as in the customary operation of an automatic player. For securing the tracker in its position out of use, shown in Fig. 5, there are provided spring dogs, 84, mounted upon the cheeks and havin their noses in position to engage longitudinally projecting studs. 86. at the opposite ends of the tracker mouth -piece. For locking the tracker fixedly in the position of use shown in Fig. 6, there are provided dogs, 87. 87, mounted on the cheeks, and normally held by springs, 88, in the position shown in said Fig. 6, where they are stopped by pins. 89, at their upper ends projecting laterallv from them for encounter with the upstanding pins. 90, on the upper edges of the cheeks. These dogs have their upper ends provided with suitable catch noses, 91, upon whose upper abrupt shoulders the studs. 86, of the tracker become lodged upon said pins, forcing theirway past said catch noses as the tracker is swung up to operative position. For adj usting the tracker longitudinally for the well understood purpose of alining its tracker duct mouths with the note sheet apertures or for transposing the journal, 82. of the left-hand lever, 81. is provided with collars, 82 82. between which fork arm. 98 of the lever, 93, having its fulcrum between its ends supported on the left-hand sheet for swinging toward and from said sheet. the forward end of said lever being forked for pivotal engagement with a nut. 95. which travels upon the threaded shaft. 96, journaled in the cheeks and provided with a knurled head, 97, for manipulation by the operator.

As already indicated. it is necessary to change the communication in the cabinet of the cable tubes connected with the tubes. 8, to adapt them to perform their proper service in the recording and playing, respectively. For this purpose, the tubes. 8 in the cabinet (which are the continuations of the tubes, 8. on the piano), lead to a slide valve bar, 100. which is mounted on a duct board. 101. said duct board having two sets of ducts. 8 and 8 which are respectively connected by flexible tubes. 102 and 103, with the tracker board. 80. and the recording motorpneumatics. 44. Ducts. 8. in the valve slide bar, 100, with which the tubes, 8", are

connected, are branched in said valve slide bar so as to terminate in two rows of ports, 8 and 8 at the face of said bar, which is seated upon the duct board, 101; and the two sets of ducts, 8 and 8 in said duct board, for connection with the tubes, 102 and 103, respectively, have their ports at the face of the board on which the valve slide bar seats, positioned for registration of the ports, 8, with the branches, 8 and of the ducts, 8 with the branches, 8 of said valve slide bar ducts, but not for registration of both sets of ports at the same time, the valve slide bar being longitudinally adjustable on the duct board at one limit of its range of adjustment. having the ducts, 8, registered with the ducts, 8, and at the other limit. having the ducts, 8 registered with the ducts, 8 so that by said adjustment the communication of the tubes. 8. is shifted to cause them to serve either the tracker or the recording pneumatics, 44, the adjustment being made to correspond with the adjustment of the parts mounted on the piano. which is effected by the screw shaft. 58. For moving the valve bar, 100. to shift the connections as described. said valve slide bar is connected with one end of the le er. 10%. fulcrumed between ts ends on the duct board. 101. and having the other end connected to one end of a hand lever. 105. whose fulcrum located between its ends is sup ported on the frame. the other end of the lever extending up through the front bar. 10 of the cabinet into position for convenient manipulation by the operator.

The tubes at the piano are connected with the tubes, 8 in the cab'net by tubes. 8 as sembled in a cable, 110. in wh ch there are also comprised air trunks, 111 and 112. for connection. respectively, with air trunk members. 111 and 112*, in the cabinet. lead ing therein. from the exhaust air chamber, 115, which is exhausted by the pumpers, 47. through the trunk, 17, said trunks, 111 and 112, being for cennection at the piano end with trunk members, 111 and 112 both leading to the primary pneumatic chamber, 6.

In order that the perfo mer on the piano may cause the record ng device in the cabinet to record not only the movement of the keys. but also approximately the force with which they are struck so as to indicate the loudness or softness of the playing, there is provided on the piano a pedal, 150, upheld by a comparatively strong spring. 151, and having a considerable range of movement at the point wiere the foot of the op erator will rest upon it so that with a little attentien and practice the operator may depress the pedal from time '0 time approximately according to the force with which he is playing. After practice, such action of Ill) the foot corresponding to the force which the performer is using with his hands in playing, becomes habitual and automatic so that the degree of depression of the pedal corresponds quite accurately to the loudness of the playing. A lever, 152, connected with the pedal operates a slidev valve, 153, in a. bleeder, socalled, 151,-that is, a. chamber having a narrow slit or succession of holes, 151, which are covered or uncovered more or less according to the position to which the slide valve is moved in the chamber so as to admit the air more or less freely to the chamber. A tube, 155, extends from this bleeder chamber to the cable, and in the cabinet a tube, 155, corresponding to the tube, 155, leads from the cable to a motor pneumatic, 156, which is in permanent communication with the exhaust chamber so as to be normally collapsed whenever the apparatus is in service. The moving wall of this motor pneumatic has a lever arm, 158, provided with a slot, 159, extending to its upper end and forming a notch for pivotal connection with a slide, 160, which is mounted for sliding longitudinally on the platform, 15, on which the recording pneumatics are mounted, and this slide carries a marker, 161, over-hanging the carbon platen roll for tracing a line on the record sheet which would be parallel with the edge of the sheet if the motor pneumatic, 156, remained completely collapsed or completely expanded, but which will be sinuous when said pneumatic is varyingly expanded and collapsed, as will be the case if the pedal, 150, is operated as described for varying the bleeding of the pneumatic, as the admission of air, into the pneumatic for lowering the exhaust tension is called. The connections may be arranged either to cause the pneumatic to be normally collapsed whenever the apparatus is in service and to be relieved from the exhaust and withdrawn from action of the bleeder so as to be more or less expanded whenever the pedal, 150, is depressed more or less; or if preferred, the connections may be such that the bleeder is normally wide open and the pneumatic th ere fore normally expanded, the depression of the pedal restricting the bleeding and stopping it entirely at the maximum depression which would correspond to the loudest playing. it is thought preferable to adopt the first mentioned method because it will involve less use of air, the bleeders being open and the air being admitted only when the pedal is depressed for loud playing and nowhere being used by the pneumatic, 156, 1n merely playing with ordinary or normal loudness. Preferably a spring, 162, holds the slide, 160, normally at the limit of its movement corresponding to the position of the slotted end of the lever arm, 158, when the pneumatic, 156, is free from the influence of the airchamber,-that is, the-position which said lever arm will occupy before the pumpers are started. This slotted end connection of the lever arm with the slide thus permits not only the disengagement of the slide with the lever arm when the platform, 15, is tilted up to take the recording apparatus out of service, but also its reengagement automatically when the platform 15 swung down to operative position of the recording device.

I do not limit myself to the use of a pneumatic connection from the pedal, 150, at the piano to the marker, 161, in the cabinet, because when the cabinet is not too remote from the piano, other means may obviously be employed for causing the movement of the pedal under the foot of the operator to actuate the marker.

The construction of the cable, 110, and of the fittings for connecting it at its ends with the tubes at the piano and cabinet, res ectively, is substantially the same as shown in my pending application, Serial No. 699,871, filed May 27, 1912, and is partly illustrated in Fig. 15, which represents the face of one of the couplings with which the cable is terminated at both ends and which are identical with couplings mounted on the piano frame and on the cabinet, respectively for matching said terminal couplings on the cable. This coupling consists substantially of a plate, 115, having nipples, 116 and 117, for the air trunks, and 118, for the smaller air tubes, these nipples being set into the disk at apertures which open through the disk to the face which is to be applied to the mate coupling, the two cou plings being applied and bound together by bolts, 119, taking through their margins with their corresponding duct apertures registered.

The construction shown comprises certain minor details worthy of mention which will now be described.

When the apparatus is being employed for recording music, it is found desirable to apply some resistance to the record sheet for the purpose of causing it to press with some tractile force upon the carbon-covered platen roll so as to rotate the latter and prevent the sheet from slipping on the carbon surface which has a tendency to smear it. This resistance is most satisfactorily applied by means of a spring-pressed brake, 120, hinged to the frame back of the roller, 21, and arranged to press upon the surface of the sheet running from the roll. When the apparatus is being used for playing. such pressure is not required upon the note sheet, and the brake device is then swung back out of position. for service and is provided with a spring catch, 121, whose hoolrnose, 121, engagesa stud, 122 on the frame for locking 11; out of operative position, as

tab

seen in Fig. 6. When the apparatus is employed for playing and the pumping is done by a motor, as shown, it is found most con venient to operate the motor at uniform speed, such speed being sutiicient to maintain the maximum bellows tension,thatis, the tension adequate for the loudest playing,and to modulate said tension by a bleeder, that is, a device for admitting air to the exhaust chamber at controlled rate to produce the exhaust tension therein. Such bleeder is shown at 125, Fig. 3, comprising a valve chamber denoted by that number and connected by an air pipe, 126, with the main exhaust chamber conduit, 114, which leads from all the pumpers to the exhaust air chamber, 115, a valve, 127, being mounted for opening and closing to any desired degree a port, 128, by which air may enter the air pipe, 126. A lever, 129, connected with the valve for sliding it, extends up into position to be manipulated by the operator who may thus control the loudness of the playing.

For producing the marks in recording, the platen roll, 46, being wound with sheet of suitable material, such as carbon paper or ink-saturated fabric, is provided with means for holding the ends of the paper or fabric thus wound upon it, consisting of spring clips, 130, 180, (see Fig. 7) located at the ends of the platen roll, that is, outside of the area over which the record sheet travels. These clips may obviously be dispensed with, the fabric being secured by pasting at the points where it is shown held by the clips.

I claim 1. In combination, two pneumatic organisms, each organism comprising a set or" motor pneumatics and a set of vent devices; connections by which the vent devices of each organism control the motor pneumatics of the other organism, said connections comprising a single set of tubes extending between the two organisms for both con trols and means for shifting the communic: tion of said tubes from that suitable for one control to that suitable for the other.

2. In combination, two pneumatic orga isms, each organism comprising a set of motor pneumatics and a set of vent devices; connections by which the vent devices of each organism control the motor pneumatics of the other organism, said connections comprising a set of primary pneumatics, and aset of tubes extending between the two organisms for both controls, said tubes having communication with both sets of vent devices, and means for shifting the communication of the tubes from that suitable to one control to that suitable for the other.

3. In combination, two pneumatic organisms, one comprising a set of primary pneumatics, and each comprising a set of motor pneumatics and-a set of vent devices; connections by which the vent devices of each organism control the motor pneumatics of the other organism, comprising means of communication of both said vent devices with the said set of primary pneumatics, and means for shifting the communication of the primary pneumatics and the vent devices from that suitable for one control to that suitable for the other.

at. In combination with a set of tubes and two organisms which they connect, the organism at one end of the tubes comprising a set of primary pneumatics and their valve chambers: a set of motor pneumatics connected with the valve chambers and a set of venting devices for the primary pneumatics, the tubes having at that end two connections, and means for opening and closing them, one with the primary pneumatics and the other with their valve chambers, the other organism comprising a set of motor pneumatics and a set of venting devices, and connections of the tubes both with said m0- tor pneumatics and with said venting de vices, and means for opening and closing said connections.

5. In combination with a set of tubes, two pneumatic organisms which they connect, one of said organisms comprising a set of motor pneumatics, a set of primary pneumatics which control them and venting means for said primary pneumatics, the other organism comprising a set of motor pneumatics and a second means of venting the primaries of the first organism, said tubes having connection at one end both with the primary pneumatics and with the passages which their valves control in the first organism, and at the other end with the motor pneumatics and with the venting means of said other organism; devices in one organism adjustable to two positions, at one of which positions they cut oil the primaries from the venting means of that organism and said tubes from the valve-controlled passages, and open the tube communications with the primaries, and at the other, reverse said communications: and means in the other organism for simultaneously cutting ofi either of said tube communications and opening the other.

6. In combination with a single set of primary pneumatics and valve passages which they respectively control, two sets of motor pneumatics for different purposes, and separate connections from the valved passages of the single set of primaries to said two sets of motor pneumatics, respectively, for controlling the latter; two separate means for venting the primary pneumatics for the respective purposes; a single set of tubes constituting part of the connection from said valved passages to one of said sets of motor pneumati'cs, and constituting also part of the :connection from the primary pneumatics to one of said venting means, said tubes having at one end two connections, one with one of the venting means and the other with one set of motor pneumatics, and having at the other end two connections, one with the primary pneumatics and the other with their respective valved passages; devices movable for simultaneously cutting off the other venting means and the communication with the valved passages and opening communication with the primaries, and at another position to close the communications first opened and open the communications first closed, and means for operating said devices.

7. In combination with a single set of primary pneumatics and valved passages which they respectively control, two sets of motor pneumatics for different purposes and separate connections from the valved passages of the single set of primaries to the two sets of motor pneumatics, respectively, for controlling the latter; two separate means for venting the primary pneumatics for the respective purposes; a single set of tubes constituting a part of the connections from said valved passages to one of said sets of motor pneumatics, and constituting also part of the connections from the primary pneumatics to one of said venting means, said tubes having at one end two connections, one with one of the venting means and the other with one set of motor pneumatics, and having at the other end two connections, one with the primary pneumatics and the other with their respective valved passages; and means in the respective organisms for shifting the communication of said tubes from one to the other of their connections in said organisms.

8. In combination with a keyed instrument and its case and a cabinet separate from the same, an organism in the cabinet comprising a set of motor pneumatics and a tracker board; an organism in the instrument case comprising, in combination with the instrument keys, a set of primary pneumatics and the valved passages which they control; a set of venting means for said primaries operated by the instrument keys; a set of motor pneumatics and connections from the valvecontrolled passages to said motor pneumatics; a set of tubes extending from the organism in the instrument casing to the organism in the cabinet; means for giving the tubes communication in the cabinet alternatively with the venting means and with the motor pneumatics therein, said tubes being connected in the instrument casing both to the primary pneumatics and to the valved passages which they control, and means for alternatively cutting off simultaneously the venting 'meansof said organism and the communication of said tubes with the'valved passages, or the communication of said tubes with the primary pneumatics and of the valve-controlled passages with the motor pneumatics.

9. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame; sheetactuating rolls mounted in the frame; a tracker mounted between the rolls for travel of the sheet over its edge; a system of motor pneumatics and markers carried by them, respectively, positioned at the opposite side of the path of the sheet from the tracker, said tracker and system of pneumatics being pivotally mounted in the frame for swinging in opposite directions away from the path of the sheet, the frame being provided with means for journaling a sheet-supporting roll rotatably between the sheet-actuating rolls.

10. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame; sheetcarrying and actuating rolls journaled in the frame, and means for rotating them to propel the sheet from one to the other; a tracker pivotally mounted in the frame and means for securing it at a position at which its edge supports the sheet traveling between the rolls, such tracker being movable about its pivotal connection to retract its sheetsupporting edge back from the path of travel of the sheet toward the plane containing the axes of the rolls; a platform pivotally mounted on the frame and a system of marker actuating pneumatics carried by such platform; means for positioning the platform with respect tothe path of travel of the sheet so that the markers stand opposite said path and proximate thereto, the platform being movable about its pivotal connection to carry the markers away from said path, and means for securing the platform at the position to which it may be thus moved.

11. In a mechanism for the purpose inclicated, in combination with a frame; sheetpropelling rolls mounted in the frame; a tracker pivotally mounted in the frame adapted to be moved about its pivotal connection to carry its edge into and away from position for supporting the paper; means for securing it at the limits of its said range of movement; a system of marker-actuating pneumatics and a platform on which they are carried; markers actuated by said pneumatics and carried by said platform into a position proximate to the path of the sheet, the platform being movable about its pivotal connection to carry the markers to a position remote from said path, and means for securing the platform in the latter position.

12. In a mechanism for the'purpose indicated, in combination with a frame, sheet actuating rolls having their journal bearings fixedly positioned in the frame; a tracker having at its ends laterally-extended lever arms by which it is pivotally mounted in the frame for rocking about an axis located in a plane parallel to that containing the roll axes, offset laterally from the tracker and distant from the sheet-supporting edge of the tracker at least as far as said plane of the roll axes measuring in a plane at right angles to said last mentioned plane; whereby it may be swung from a position at which it crosses the plane containing the axes of the sheet-actuating rolls to a position entirely at the opposite side of said plane from the path of the sheet.

13. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame, sheetactuating rolls mounted for rotation about their respective axes and having the bearings in which they are thus mounted fixedly positioned in the frame, and a tracker having lever arms by which it is pivotally mounted in the frame for rocking about an axis which is nearer to the axis of one of the rolls than to that of the other, and which is approximately in the plane containing the axes of the two rolls.

1%. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame; sheetactuating rolls mounted therein; a tracker having lever arms by which it is pivotally mounted in the frame for swinging from a position transverse to the plane containing the axes of the rolls to a position approximately parallel thereto at the opposite side of said plane from the path of the sheet; journals rigid with said lever arms and constituting the means of fulcruming the tracker on the frame, such journals being journaled in the frame for sliding in their bearings; a lever fulcrumed on the frame for swinging in the direction of the length of the rolls and engaged with one of said journals for sliding said journals through their bearings, and means for adjusting the lever.

15. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame; sheetactuating rolls mounted therein, a tracker having lever arms by which it is pivotally mounted in the frame for swinging from a position transverse to the plane containing the axes of the rolls to a position approximately parallel thereto at the opposite side of said plane from the path of the sheet; stub rock shafts rigid with said lever arms and constituting the means of fulcruming the tracker on the frame, such rock shafts being journaled in the frame for sliding in their bearings; a lever fulcrumed on the frame for swinging in the direction of the length of the rolls and engaged with one of said rock shafts for sliding the latter through their bearings; a screw shaft journaled in the frame and operatively connected by means of its thread with the lever for sliding the rock shaft, and thereby moving the tracker longitudinally.

16. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame; sheetpropelling rolls mounted in the frame; a platen roll having a mark-producing sur face journaled in the frame between the shect-actuating rolls in position to support the sheet traveling from roll to roll; a system of marker-actuating pneumatics mounted on the frame and markers carried by said pneumatics terminating proximate to the sl1eetsupporting surface of the mark-producing roll in position to be thrust theretoward by the action of the pneumatics.

17. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a primary pneumatic system comprising primary pneumatics, valve chambers which they control; a wall having a set of ports leading to the valve chambers, and a set of ports leading to the primary pneumatics; a valve slide bar seated on said wall for controlling the primary pneumatic ports having two sets of ducts, each terminating in a set of ports adapted for registration with said primary pneumatic ports, each set of ducts having a set of tubes for leading away from the slide bar, and one of the sets having a third set of ports; a second slide valve bar having two sets of ducts, each terminating in a set of ports for registration with the valve chamber ports, one of said sets having tubes connecting its ports with said third set of ports of the firstmentioned bar, the other of said sets having tubes leading away from the bar, and means for moving the two slide valve bars to shift the registration of the ports of said bars with the primary pneumatic ports and valve chamber ports respectively.

18. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a motor pneumatic system, a primary pneumatic system and a primary pneumatic venting means, said primary pneumatic system comprising primary pneumatics and their valves; chambers which their valves control, and a wall having a set of ports leading to said chambers and having ports leading to the primary pneumatics; valve slide bars mounted on said wall for controlling, respectively, the primary pneumatic ports and the valve chamber ports, the first of said bars having two sets of ducts, each terminating in a set of ports for registration with the primary pneumatic ports, one of said sets of ducts having tubes leading to said venting means, the other set having a set of ports provided with tubes leading away from the slide bar and having a third set of ports. the other slide valve bar having two sets of ducts, each terminating in the face of the bar, with a set of ports for registration with the valve chamber ports, one of said sets of ducts having tubes extending to said third set of ports of the first bar, and the other set of ducts having tubes extending to the motor pneumatics.

19. In an apparatus for recording music, in combination With the instrument Whose playing is to be recorded, the recording apparatus comprising means for propelling a record, a traveling sheet and a marker; a motor pneumatic for operating the marker; a bleeder mounted upon the instrument, and a yieldingly supported pedal for operating the bleeder, and a tube connecting the bleeder with the motor pneumatic.

20. In an apparatus for recording music, in combination with the instrument Whose playing is to be recorded, a recording device comprising means for propelling a traveling record sheet; a marker mounted for movement transversely of the travel of the sheet; a motor pneumatic connected With the marker for so moving it by the collapse and expansion of the pneumatic; an air chamber and air pumping means connected therewith; a motor pneumatic having communication With said air chamber; a bleeder mounted on the instrument; a tube connect ing it with the motor pneumatic, and a spring-supported pedal on the instrument operatively connected with the bleeder.

21. In an apparatus for recording the manual playing of music, in combination with the instrument Whose manual playing is to be recorded; a recording device comprising means for propelling a traveling record sheet; a marker mounted for marking action on the sheet and for movement transversely of the travel of the sheet during such marking action thereon; a springsupported pedal in position to be operated by the foot of the performer on the instrument, and connections by Which the movement of the pedal causes the marker to be so moved.

22. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination with a frame, sheetactuating rolls having their bearings in fixed positions in the frame; a tracker having at its ends laterally extending lever arms by which it is pivotally mounted in the frame for rocking about an axis offset laterally from said tracker.

23. In a mechanism for the purpose indicated, in combination With a frame, a delivery roll and a take-up roll having their axes at fixed positions in the frame; a tracker having at its ends arms by Which it is mounted in the frame for being held at a position at Which its sheet-supporting edge is parallel with the plane containing the axes of the rolls and at one side of that plane, said arms being pivoted to the frame at a line near the plane containing the axes of said rolls and laterally offset from any plane at right angles to said plane containing said axes and cutting the sheet-supporting edge of the tracker.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of November, 1912.

MELVILLE CLARK.

Witnesses LUCY I. STONE, RoB'r. N. BURTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

